Overtime: Cover mix-up pits Wuerffel Gators starter

There's another quarterback shuffle taking place at Florida. Only this time, Steve Spurrier isn't calling the shots.

The cover of Street and Smith's annual college preview magazine was supposed to feature a picture of this year's probable starter, Jesse Palmer.

Instead, there's another No. 7 in the picture -- Gator great Danny Wuerffel.

The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner, an all-time favorite at Florida, made the cover because of a mix-up in the labeling of the negative.

"We blew it," executive editor Mike Kallay said. "There are some long, convoluted reasons for it, but clearly, bottom line, it should not have happened. God knows, we regret it."

Florida officials didn't seem too concerned.

"We all make mistakes," Steve McClain, Florida's co-director of sports information, told Florida Today. "At least they had the right number. But I'm sure that's no consolation for Jesse."

BASKETBALL:

USC Aiken's head women's basketball coach Phil Stern announced the resignation of assistant coach Elizabeth O'Brien as she accepted the same position at Hofstra University.

A 1997 graduate of Hofstra, O'Brien replaces Patrina Blow who left to pursue a position at Boston University. While at Hofstra, O'Brien was a two sport standout in basketball and soccer.

While at USC Aiken, she served as head women's cross country coach while helping Stern turn the Lady Pacers basketball program around. Stern is currently conducting a search to fill the coaching vacancy.

HOCKEY:

The Augusta Lynx head coach and director of hockey operations Scott MacPherson announced the hiring of Robert D. Kirsch as the team's director of player personnel.

Kirsch graduated from Western Michigan with a degree in business administration and has been an assistant coach with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League.

Kirsch will be based in Boston and will be responsible for scouting and recruiting players for the Lynx.

OLYMPICS:

The Australian government is facing a diplomatic standoff with nations -- including the United States, Israel and China -- determined to bring weapons to the Sydney Olympics to protect their athletes.

The federal government is maintaining that Australian authorities will retain responsibility for the security of all athletes and officials, The Australian newspaper reported Thursday.

Israel and the United States had both reportedly applied for exemptions from Australia's tough firearms laws to allow agents to bring their weapons into Australia for the Sept. 15-Oct. 1 Olympics.

Israel has been sensitive to security needs since 11 athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games.

Jewish media reports in May suggested Israeli officials were working with Australian authorities to allow security agents who usually protect high-ranking delegates to use their own weapons to protect athletes.

Other countries such as China, Turkey, Japan, the United States, Iran and Iraq have all expressed their concerns about Australia's stance on the carriage of firearms, The Australian reported.

FOOTBALL:

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski, the first-round draft pick who has had recent run-ins with the law, appears close to signing a contract with the Oakland Raiders.

Jacksonville-based agent Paul Healy would not release terms of the deal nor would he confirm the pending signing Wednesday. He did say Janikowski would be present at a news conference Thursday at his office, however.

A spokesman for the Raiders on Wednesday said they have "nothing to announce yet."

Quarterback Chad Pennington, the player drafted one spot below Janikowski, signed a five-year deal worth $5.7 million with the New York Jets. Janikowski's deal is expected to be worth about the same, although his off-field problems may have played a part in the negotiations.

The Raiders surprised a lot of people by selecting the troubled Florida State kicker 17th overall in the draft.

BASKETBALL:

Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was arrested Tuesday night for investigation of driving under the influence of marijuana.

The former Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA star was taken into custody about 7 p.m. after a police officer who pulled him over for speeding smelled marijuana fumes coming from the open window of his car, said Officer Eduardo Funes, a police spokesman.

Abdul-Jabbar failed a field sobriety test administered near the San Fernando Valley intersection where he was stopped, Funes said. He was taken to a local jail, where he was booked on the misdemeanor charge and released on his own recognizance.

A spokeswoman for Kareem Productions declined comment Wednesday.

Abdul-Jabbar, 53, is the NBA's career scoring leader with 38,387 points in the regular season and 44,149 total, including the playoffs.

The 7-foot-2 center, known for his all-but-unstoppable hook shot, led the UCLA Bruins to three consecutive NCAA championships before joining the NBA.

In a career spanning 20 seasons, Abdul-Jabbar played in 19 All-Star games and won six MVP awards.